WHY Dilute Vallejo Colors with Distilled Water EXPLAINED

Your hand painting with Vallejo Mecha Colors will be better if you use my custom MUG. lol, just kidding.

Other than wanting an excuse to take photos of my mug, and waking up early as I am an old man...


Let's talk shop!

Let's talk WHY Dilute Vallejo Mecha Colors with Distilled Water?


VALLEJO PAINTS

Vallejo paints ( from Model Color, Game Color to Mecha Colors ) vary in consistency. this is normal for acrylics. Vallejo is a high pigment count acrylic with the finest pigments in the market ( I do not have a microscope to test this tho ).

But as a painter ( once in a while ), painting ( on canvas ) with any PRO grade acrylics ( hobby grade or studio grade ) have varying degrees of consistency. The Reds and Yellows are thinner than the very creamy Browns and Greys. The Cream colors ( even in the airbrush paint ranges ) are super creamy.

In time you will learn how to thin acrylics ( in general ) to get master class or descent ( at least ) work.



DISTILLED WATER

I use only distilled water. Vallejo claims that their fine hobby grade pigments ( not industrial grade like cheaper brands ) can be stained by minerals from tap water. Tap water will pollute the paints. So I use only the purest form of water... distilled water.

Other high quality established acrylic paint brands ( I won't name them ) also advises thinning with distilled water.

IMHO, I do not see the difference of thinning with distilled water. Perhaps ( most likely ) my painting is not good enough to see the difference.

However, there is no harm in following Vallejo's instructions in using distilled water exclusively in rinsing and keeping your paint brushes wet. I keep small bottles of distilled water under my bench all the time. Distilled water are so cheap anyways.



DO NOT FOLLOW ( rebel me ) Vallejo's instructions of hand painting, much more airbrushing certain ( all ) Vallejo paints straight from the dropper bottle.

DO NOT FOLLOW ( I am so rebellious... I know ) thinning with distilled water as mediums and Vallejo Airbrush Thinners ( and Flow Improver ) are better, as they won't weaken the adherence and finish of the paints.

Note: I will always say this. Proper thinning for hand painting and airbrushing Vallejo Mecha Colors is key for a strong finish. Vallejo Mecha Colors were formulated to be extra strong and scratch resistant but know how to properly use them to get excellent results.



THINNING VALLEJO MECHA COLOR FOR HAND PAINTING

I thin my Mecha Color for hand painting with Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and Vallejo Mediums. At a rough ( this vary per color ) ratio of 4 parts paint, 2 parts Medium and 1 part Aibrush Thinner.

I keep my paint brush wet only with distilled water, and also only clean my paint brush with distilled water. I rarely use my wet palette and use a small plastic paint dish oftentimes. So I regularly wet my paint brush with distilled water during hand painting.

Also, I always rinse my paint brush while painting as these paints dry fast. ( I also use Retarder Mediums to slow down drying time during hand painting ).

I sometimes use my DIY open wet palette ( yes not closable ) when hand painting in thin amounts. This is filled only with distilled water up to the sponge level.

How I thin my Vallejo Mecha Color is better seen in my video below...

THINNING VALLEJO MECHA COLOR FOR AIRBRUSHING

I use Vallejo Mecha Thinner and Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver in thinning my Vallejo Mecha Colors for Airbrush. Same as in hand painting, reds and yellow thin differently than the creamier greys and browns.

A rough ratio of 4 parts paint and 1 part thinner and 1 part flow improver for most paints.

I clean my airbrush ( like my paint brush ) regularly during painting.

I clean my airbrush with a diluted ( with tap water ) Vallejo Airbrush Thinner ( 50:50 )

How I thin my Vallejo Mecha Colors is better seen in these videos below...

CONCLUSION

I hope this early morning Vallejo Mecha Blog entry helps. 

The real key to achieving great quality Vallejo Mecha Color finishes is by using my DC23 logo mug during painting. Hahaha. 

Like I always say, invest in high quality tools and paints ( slowly ) as they are investments if you love the hobby ( and if you love your kits - ;b ). 

Good paints and tools will last for years and will give you years of fun. 

That's it. I hope you'll find this entry informative. Thanks as always for dropping by, until next update guys! 

Saludos! 

This blog article is part of my Vallejo Colors EXPLAINED series of posts.

• Vallejo Paints EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Mecha Color EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Mediums EXPLAINED

Read more >>

Vallejo Mediums EXPLAINED

This is one of the reasons why I love Vallejos so much. They formulate and design paints depending on use. They also design auxiliary paints ( varnishes, thinners, binders and mediums ) to achieve optimal results. Acrylicos Vallejo has a super wide range of paints from Fine Art and crafts to hobby paints. It almost feel like toy collecting. lol

This blog article is part of my Vallejo Colors EXPLAINED series of posts.

• Vallejo Paints EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Mecha Color EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver EXPLAINED
• Vallejo Mediums EXPLAINED

I saw that Angel Giraldez ( the awesome miniature painter ) uses mediums to thin paints for airbrushing ( in addition to using Vallejo thinner ). But I personally just use mediums for hand painting. To each his own I guess. lol

THE TRIFECTA

The Gloss Medium, Matt Medium and Satin Medium. 

The Gloss Medium I mix with Black paints to hand paint undercoating for Vallejo Metallic paints. It is always best to paint metallics over a nice gloss black finish. I hand paint small pieces ( even bigger pieces like hands ) instead of masking them and airbrushing.

The Satin Medium is perfect for adding to paints when your painting leather and skin. They will give any Vallejo paint a nice sheen without looking wet and extremely shiny  ( like the gloss medium ). 

The Matt Medium is perfect for everything else. Note that the Matt Medium is not strong in comparison to the gloss and satin mediums. IMHO, The Matt Medium ( same with the Matt Varnish ) are the best ready mixed Matt auxiliary paints in the market. 

THE CHIPPING MEDIUM

I have a ton of chipping mediums as I have a lot of Vallejo Rust and Weathering Paint Sets ( Paints that came in 6 or 8 paints per box ). Chema Cabrero, Tony Buendia and similar master scale modelers, use this medium a lot.

If you are into weathering and paint chipping effects, this is the only choice. Much like any of the Vallejo Paints, this medium is easy to hand paint. No need to put out your airbrush while hand painting weathering and chipping effects.

THE RETARDER MEDIUM

You can use this if you do not use wet palettes during hand painting. Wet palettes will keep your...errr... paint wet while painting, thus you can blend and mix paints together easily. However, I advice using this Retarder Medium if you like blending and mixing and keeping your paints wet a bit longer, both on a wet palette and on a mixing dish. Just use super small amounts of this. You do not want your paint to dry in a year or two ( just kidding ).

THE CRACKLE MEDIUM

This medium is crazy good albeit tricky to control. It gives you a somewhat ... errr... ruined finish. It will give the paint on top some cracks! Literally... you'll produce cracking paints if you use this. you can airbrush or hand paint this, paint over it... then watch your paint CRACK as it dries and cures. The is crazy stuff.

THE PIGMENT BINDER

The Pigment Binder is not a medium, but acts like a medium. lol

Basically you use this mixed with pigments. I will have to produce a video and upload on my Youtube channel to show the effects and how to use this medium well. This is great stuff if use properly.

THE METAL MEDIUM

This is a beautiful medium. It is a gloss medium with shiny micro particles. Unlike using normal gloss medium, this metal medium actually enhances the sheen and shine of Vallejo metallics. This is awesome stuff! I highly recommend this for any Mecha / Gunpla modeler who hand paints metallics! And yes... Vallejo Metallics, much more the Vallejo Metal Color line have their own Varnish! 

CONCLUSION

Serious modelers, and definitely professional modelers should get all of these. However, hobbyists and weekend modelers should be fine with just the TRIFECTA ( Gloss, Satin and Matt Mediums ).

Like I always say, paints ( and tools ) are investments. They are not cheap. Kits are NOT CHEAP too... So always use the best paints and tools for your hobby. You need not buy everything in one blow... slowly invest. 

Anyways, thanks as always for dropping by! Until next update guys! 

Just enjoy the hobby! Cheers! 

Read more >>

Acrylicos Vallejo Mecha Color Set Unboxing at Youtube

I just uploaded the unboxing of the Acrylicos Vallejo Mecha Color Set at my Youtube channel.

OVERVIEW

The Vallejo Mecha Colors set was designed and formulated for Mecha, Transformer and other kits that have articulation. The Mecha Color paints are said to withstand the usual posing, handling and sometimes playing of Gunpla and other kits with movable parts. These paints were tested on plastic, cipper and white metal and can actually adhere to the surface without primer.

I think I will use these paints for action figures soon. I like painting toys once in a while.

You get 80 paints in the box and a brochure. The brochure has simple instructions on how to use these acrylic paints.

You get set of paints within the box.

There are Weathering effects paints, tons of shades of greys, blues and reds. A set of 11 Metallic paints, some fluorescent paints and auxiliary paints like thinner, the awesome flow improver, 3 varnishes and even the chipping medium and decal softener.

STRONG ADHERENCE BUT NON-TOXIC

Much like the rest of Acrylicos Vallejo paints, these Mecha Color line are safe and non-toxic. They are safe for airbrushing and won't produce harmful fumes. Imagine the adherence of other toxic paints without the potential hazard.

Awesome... almost magical stuff.

It took Vallejo years to develop these paints. A ton of testing by actual modelers happened, before the market release of these paints.

Again... awesome stuff.

I will be using these Mecha Color paints on my RG Sazabi soon. I will upload the complete painting process on my channel.

Anyways, I talked a bit more at my youtube channel. Do check out my new upload!

As always, thanks a ton for dropping by! Until next update guys!

Cheers!

SHOUTOUT as usual!

I only use Vallejo Acrylic paints in all my builds - Acrylicos Vallejo

I get some of my tools from HOBBYMATE Singapore - HobbyMate at Facebook

And get my Vallejo paints from Neutral Grounds Philippines - Neutral Grounds Philippines

I only use Harder & Steenbeck for airbrushing - Harder & Steenbeck Airbrush

Read more >>

Darth Vader ART

Just finished this Darth Vader INK Painting. I used Vallejo Acrylic Ink to render this piece. I used mainly brushes and ink. Diluted the ink with ordinary tap water for the shading. The black ink has a brownish tint when diluted, but I like the warm effect. This was painted on a 9 x 12 inch 425gsm watercolor paper.

This is now available in very limited copies of 20 at the ART SHOP! Link of the SHOP below...

DARTH VADER ART

Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next post guys! CIAO!

Read more >>

Cool Plastic Organizers for my Vallejos

I figured I haven't posted some of my painting stuff here at my blog recently. I have been posting these at my Instagram and Twitter accounts ( @don_suratos ) tho. I also regularly post at my Facebook page ( @DonSuratosArtist ). But I figured these stuff deserve some bloggin'!

I got meself some nifty lipstick organizers a while back. I used them to organize my Vallejos. As you can see, I have a ton of paints... organizing them into usage and colors is KEY. Key to a happier and less frustrating painting alone time. Finding that color in a disorganized table would irritate me like hell.

I love how the clear plastic lipstick holders look on my painting table! I will be expanding this table soon. A new package of NEW Vallejo paints might come my way.

I will be sharing tutorials and tips at Facebook on Vallejo stuff hopefully very soon! Will also share them here as usual. Stay tuned guys! Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next post! CIAO!

Read more >>

Traditional Dip Pen Art to Digital Art

I love my Dip Pens! Albeit some clients like them traditionally colored ( with markers ) or digitally colored. I have this one client that needs the drawings ( illustrations ) for box art, manual and cards. Thus I scan my Dip Pen drawing and color them in Photoshop. The Aliens piece here ( and the project for Labmasu ) are perfect examples of Traditional ART to Digital ART.

As I've blogged here, there are various advantages between traditional and digital art.
I do enjoy both. And my current process of drawing on paper, and coloring in Photoshop, makes me produce a traditional dip pen and Indian ink ART, and a Digitally enhanced version at the same time.

Much like anything else, ART is a process. You need to enjoy making ART from pencil to rendering. An artist is in his own world from penciling to Photoshop work. You cannot jump to details OR you cannot be effective in any part of the process, if you did not enjoy every step of the process. ART is unlike office work where the boss jumps at the end and critic your work without understanding the process. Enjoy it and it will reflect in your final piece.

I hope you find this post insightful at the very least. Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next post guys! CIAO!

Read more >>

Dip Pen and Indian Ink Art

I have been drawing for commissions for a while now, but have recently shifted to using Dip Pen and Indian Inks / Acrylic Artist Inks. Much like any of my other projects, I decided to use Acrylicos Vallejo Inks for all my drawings.

Acrylic Artist Inks dries a bit faster than Indian Inks and I just love my Vallejos in general. I might try the Windsor and Newton Super Black Ink soon, but I am very happy with the flow and the quality of the Vallejo Acrylic Artist Ink ( black, sepia ) I have right now.

I think I found my tool and medium. I love drawing with my Dip Pens! Other than the "old world" charm of using dip pens for drawing, the inks are just so opaque and deep. It is waterproof and permanent and it should never fade in time, unlike other pens ( brush pens ). My ART should stand the test of time so to speak.

Much like any other craft, the challenge of mastering and using dip pens for drawings add to the fun of using them. I love the idea that I am one of only a few artists who uses this tool and medium. Plus, the diversity and the control of the width of the lines that you could produce with one nib, is just so unbelievable.

Looking forward to sharing with you a ton more commissioned and non-commissioned dip pen and indian ink ART soon! Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next update guys! CIAO!

Read more >>

NEW Acrylicos Vallejo Metal Colors and Angel Giraldez paint sets

My pinturas has arrived! Just got my NEW Acrylicos Vallejo Metal Colors and Angel Giraldez paint sets to test this coming weekend! My day job has been killing me for the past month, I have been sleeping over the office for almost 3 weeks now and I only go home every Sundays. Weekend-less and workload these days means very little time to paint and do my commissioned works. Very little time to test and play with my new pinturas!

However, I should be able to take a leave of absence this Friday and have a 3 day weekend. That means 2 days of painting and a whole day for the family ( Sunday )! I have been sleeping over here at the office since Monday but I just got my new pinturas yesterday. My pinturas almost made me go home yesterday, but figured to finish everything before finally coming home this Friday.

Anyways, I just got the new Acrylicos Vallejo METAL Colors! These new metal color set is not yet  at the Acrylicos Vallejo website, but should be available to retail stores around late August or September. I also got a few other auxiliary products which should make using the paints even more fun and easy. I got the Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, Cleaner and Flow Improver. The Flow Improver is practically a retarder of sorts that improves airbrush use of heavy pigmented colors.

The oddest product I got is the Metal Varnish. I think it is a gloss varnish with micro glitters to enhance the shimmering effect of metallic paints. The Metal Varnish should add more bling bling to your metal finish which makes the Metal Colors and Metal Varnish perfect for bling bling Gunpla projects. I hope to test these new sets on spoons and quick Gunpla projects soon!

I also got 3 new paint sets that was developed in partnership with Angel Giraldez. The Game Air Face Painting set, The Special Effects set and the Non Death Chaos paint set. These beautiful specially formulated and mixed colors also come with step by step instruction guides on how to use. I will post a different photo review on each set as soon as I get home.

Please stay tuned as I test all these stuffs on my projects in the coming weeks. Should come up with new finished projects soon as I should no longer be busy at work. Thanks as always for dropping by as always! Until next post guys! Just enjoy the hobby!

Read more >>